QuZhou

Located in the west of Zhejiang Province,Quzhou is a state-level historical and cultural famous city, a National Excellent Tourism City,a national garden city, and a National Eco-Model city. With one city, two districts and three counties under its direct jurisdiction, Quzhou covers an area of 8,841 Square Kilometers with a population of 2.46 million.
    Quzhou can be generalized with four sentences. First, it is a city both young and ancient. As a state-level historical and cultural famous city enjoying a long history of over 1800 years, Quzhou was authorized as a Municipality only over 20 years ago. That’s why it is denoted both young and old. The long history has contributed a lot to its splendid and profound culture, in particular, the long-standing and world-renown Confucius culture and Go culture.   
    Second, it is known as “a thoroughfare leading to four provinces”. Enjoying an advantageous location and convenient transportation, Quzhou has long been the hub of communications and trading and distribution center four the four neighboring provinces. It is now the West Gate of Zhejiang province for its opening-up, an important joint of Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, and a key city in the construction of the East Sea area. Increasing importance is being attached to Quzhou in a time of accelerating factor flowing.   
    Third, it possesses picturesque landscapes. Quzhou is a National Excellent Tourism City, a national garden city, and a National Eco-Model city. Located by the source of Qianjiang River, the mother river of Zhejiang Province, with its spectacular sights and favorable environment, Quzhou will always be best defined with “green hills and clear waters”. I’m confident that everyone here has learned from the previous visits that it is of no exaggeration to describe Quzhou as “a picturesque land with a genuine hospitality”.  
    Forth, it has a distinctive economy system. Quzhou is a traditionally agricultural city, known for its green agricultural products like the Kaihua “Longding” Tea and Changshan Hu-shaddocks. As for manufacturing, Quzhou is honored as the “fluorine-silicon city of China”, developing fast in this area. A modern, creative and international industrial cluster has taken its shape, and the regional economy like equipment manufacturing and steel wire production is on the rise. The service industry is accelerating, aiming at becoming the logistic center for the four provinces, the distributing center for tourism, the center for vocational training, and the hub for transportation.    
    Ever since the opening-up and reforming of China, great changes have taken place in Quzhou. In recent years, guiding ourselves with the  scientific development view, aiming at “joining the top 100 cities, and constructing a well-off society in an all-around way”, we are implementing the strategies of “booming a city by industry”, “developing by strength-borrowing”, and “competing by special features”. we will press ahead with  reform and opening up, accelerate the development of economy and society, and bring Quzhou into a “golden age” of developing.
    In the past five years, the GDP of Quzhou increased by 14.6% annually, the foreign trade balance by 50%, which is the top speed in the province. The value of Industrial Output and the growth rate of benefit were the highest for years.  
    By last year, the per capita GDP of Quzhou had amounted 2500 dollars, taking only three years to increase from 1000 dollar to 2000 dollars, half the average time of Zhejiang. Among the 285 prefecture level cities, Quzhou’s comprehensive strength ranked on the 105th place in 2006, while ranked on 117th in 2003. It is estimated that by the year 2010, its per capita GDP will be over 3000 dollars, placing it on the top 100 cities’ list,and can meet the requirement for the constructing of a well-off society in an all-around way. By 2020, Quzhou will complete its modernization together with other cities in Zhejiang.
    Quzhou is an enchanting resort that perfectly embodies the cultural essence of the ancient city and the charms of the southern part of the Yangtze River. It abounds with scenic spots and historic sites, sharing five features, namely " saintliness,deity, rarity, fascination, and mystery."
    “Saintliness " refers to one of the only two Confucian Family Temples, Nanzong Confucian Temple. When the 48th generation descendant of Confucius followed Gao zong, an emperor of Song Dynasty, to the south, he was given a house largess and was instructed to build another family temple that should resemble the one in Qufu, Shandong Province.
     “Divinity” refers to Lanke Mountain, also known as Shishi Mountain, featuring as "one day in the mountain equals a thousand years in the earthly world ". In a folk tale, a woodman named Wang Zhi once saw two immortals play chess here, and hence it is known as the “divine land of I-go” and has become a pilgrimage place for the world Go circle.
     “Rarity " implies rare mountain, rare stele, and rare park. Rare mountain refers to Jianglang Mountain, which is the "most imposing in the world, and most beautiful in the southeast". Rare stele refers to the Qujiang joint stelae group known as “amazing oriental stelae". Rare Park refers to Changshan nation-level geopark. 
     “Fascination " refers to the charming and beautiful scenery sites like Jiulong Lake, Ziwei Mountain scenic spot, and Qianjiang source, considered as the ecological barrier of Zhejiang province and other attractions. “Mystery” refers to Longyou Cave, which is known as an "eternal mystery, cultural treasure" and "the world's ninth wonder".
    In addition, we have vigorously developed rural tourism in accordance with the picturesque natural environment as well as the most authentic characteristics of the villages and habitations, hence a large number of rural tourism sites have been established in the mountains and woods, by the water, or in the bamboo sea. By communicating with nature, tourists can taste the genuine flavors of village life in western Zhejiang.